Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - A 46-year-old man from Inanda in Durban, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Ntuzuma Regional Court for the rape of his stepdaughter. The victim, who was 10-years-old at the time of the assaults, lived with her mother and stepfather. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that the man raped the child whenever her mother went out on...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - 40 wards across the country held by-elections yesterday. In KwaZulu-Natal seven wards were contested as five municipalities held by-elections. Let's zero in on Ward 110 which comprises Glen hills, Glen Anil, Mount Moria and Avoca Hills. With 100 % of the votes counted, the ANC secured the ward. Newly elected ANC Ward Councillor - Bongumusa Dludla explains wha...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Amid rising COVID-19 figures and talks of a looming third wave, the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) is calling for more stringent rules governing the sale and advertising of liquor- without another ban. National coordinator Maurice Smithers says the lessons learnt from the second wave should serve as a warning for government - given the high...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The South African Medical Association (SAMA) have brought up a number of worrying concerns relating to "Phase 2" of the COVID-19 vaccination drive. SAMA Chairperson Dr. Angelique Coetzee made mention of numerous power outages, poor infrastructure, outdated tracking methods, non-adherence to COVID protocols and in some instances, a shortage of working computer...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - President of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha - 77-year-old Ashwin Trikamjee says he is relieved to have taken the COVID-19 vaccine. Yesterday, Trikamjee followed through on his decision to take the jab in the second phase of the vaccine rollout - at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban. Speaking to Newsbreak just hours after taking the vaccine, Trikamjee s...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - In a landmark judgement in KwaZulu-Natal, two Durban-based companies - namely Wind Motors and South By South 29, have been convicted for failing to register as motor vehicle builders. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says the duo pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving stolen property and one of failing to register as a motor vehicle builder. The Du...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - With calls mounting for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza - the majority of South Africans on social media are standing in solidarity with Palestinians, while pro-Israeli supporters have also come out in their numbers. Since last Sunday over 200 Palestinians and at least ten Israelis have been killed. Director of Acumen Media - Tonya Khoury says the narrative ha...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Even amid a global pandemic, lockdown and a lack of tourism, the city of Durban has received several nominations for the 28th annual "World Travel Awards". The four direct nominations are Africa's Leading Business Travel Destination 2021, Africa's Leading City Destination 2021, Africa's Leading Festival and Event Destination 2021 and Africa's Leading Meetings...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - If history is anything to go by, South Africa could see a spike in political rivalry violence in the run up to the Municipal Election in October. This is the view of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), who say intra-party violence such as assaults and assassinations have been on the rise. ISS Crime and Justice Information Hub Manager - Lizette Lancaster...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Conforming to the rules and regulations of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a heightened global awareness of cleanliness. Preventative measures such as sanitizing regularly and the wearing of masks have helped ensure that the spread of the virus is somewhat prevented. However, clinical risk management expert and medical adviser at the Health Squared Medical Scheme...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Angry residents of Northdale in Pietermaritzburg have allegedly assaulted an suspect involved in an attempted breaking - in what police are calling an act of vigilantism. It's is believed that on Saturday afternoon, two suspects were seen trying to gain entry into a home on Munireddy Road, when they were spotted by residents of the area. One suspect reportedly e...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Pietermaritzburg Police Spokesperson, Sergeant Mthokozisi Ngobese says the suspect has been arrested and is under police guard at Grey's Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. He says police are investigating a case of assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A group of Nobel Prize laureates and policy experts will today host an open dialogue on the "Future of Work" in South Africa. The discussion is to hosted virtually by the University of Pretoria (UP). Organised by the Nobel Prize Outreach and UP, the meeting aims to bring science and society closer - and stimulate creative thinking amid the pandemic. Economic...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - People over 60-years are being encouraged to register to get vaccinated as they formed the highest percentage of deaths due to COVID-19. This is according to Professor Morgan Chetty, Chairperson of the KZN Doctor's Healthcare Coalition. Prof Chetty says the vaccine available to help bring down the death toll among those over 60 and should be taken advantaged off...

Eskom says its teams are working on returning some of its generating units back to service amid stage two load shedding. The power utility started Stage-2 loadshedding yesterday at five pm. It is expected to last until 10pm tomorrow night (Tuesday). Eskom spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsha says they have lost ten generating units at seven power stations...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - COVID-19 patients who also suffer with hypertension are at severe risk for hospitalisation. This is according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa, who says the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals with hypertension is a concern. Today marks "World Hypertension Day". The Foundation says approximately one in three adults live...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Thousands of people took to the streets in cities across the globe this weekend, to show their support for Palestine. At various protests in South Africa, hundreds of people turned out chanting the words "Free Palestine" while holding aloft placards with encouraging and supportive messages. Since last week, at least 192 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Spokesperson for the South African Friends of Israel group - Bafana Modise says there's also been major support from churches around the world for Israel. Modise says in order for a resolution to be reached, both parties need to unite and settle their differences peacefully...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - A state-of-the-art 27-million rand fire station was opened this weekend by the eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda in Verulam, south of Durban. According to Mayor Kaunda, the fire station is designed along international standards and is expected to reach global status with further development. He says the station was built based on a needs analysis of the surrounding...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - "Books that document our history serve as a time capsule for youth to draw inspiration from". Those are the sentiments of anti-apartheid activist - Mac Maharaj, speaking at the book launch of "Thambi Naidoo and his Family: Struggle for a Non-Racial Democracy". The launch was held yesterday at Chatsworth, south of Durban. The book, which is written by Dr. Ism...

By Newsbreak Presenter and Producer, Taresh Harreepershad. While the Gauteng province is experiencing a third wave of covid-19 infections, elderly people around Durban say they are ready and waiting to be vaccinated. The nationwide vaccine rollout for over 60-year-olds will start on Monday. Just over 430,000 frontline healthcare workers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 during the first phase...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevive Lanka. the Nelson Mandela Youth Centre's Coronavirus Action Committee (COVAC), is calling for volunteers to assist with their elderly registration drive. COVAC member and Youth Centre Programme's Manager - Clive Pillay - says they have noted that a number of elderly people in the Chatsworth and Welbedacht areas, south of Durban, have not yet registered for the...

By Newsbreak Talk Presenter and Producer, Taresh Harreepershad. International concerns of a protracted conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups are growing. The Israeli military has been pounding Gaza with artillery fire and air strikes since Monday, in response to persistent Hamas rocket-fire from the enclave. The United Nations Security Council will hold its third meeting in less...

COSATU says it's strongly opposed to another hard lock down to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. This as talk of a third wave of Covid infections is gaining momentum following the rapid increase in new positive cases recently. Mbongeni Muthwa reports...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - the Nelson Mandela Youth Centre at Chatsworth, south of Durban, will tomorrow be hosting free training for parents whose children may be showing signs of hearing or speaking difficulties. 'Khuluma Now' will be facilitated by professional Speech Therapist and Audiologist - Masoodah Mohamed. The session, starting at 10:30 in the morning, will help parents to ma...